Our Top 15 Natural & Organic Shampoos

By Arwa Lodhi

While we often worry about what goes in our cosmetics and skincare, we neglect to check the ingredients of a product we all use every day: shampoo. And unfortunately, almost all commercial shampoos contain ingredients that can harm your health.

The main such ingredient is sodium laurel sulphate (SLS).

With sodium laurel sulphate, dioxins are created – and they are some of the most potentially dangerous carcinogens in the world–in fact, Agent Orange, the chemical spray used by America to defoliate the jungles of Vietnam, was made of that.

SLS is commonly used, nonetheless, because it’s cheap and has the ability to foam up when mixed with a bit of salt. Unfortunately, many consumers have the perception that lots of foam=cleaner hair, but this is not the case: the foam itself doesn’t help clean your hair much. But SLS does get rid of grease, which is why it is used for cleaning engines and in garage and kitchen floor cleaning products.

If you’ve ever wondered why shampoo labels always warn against getting the product in your eyes, it’s not because it stings–we all know that–it’s because SLS is highly irritating to all mucous membranes and the upper respiratory tract; yet avoiding inhaling droplets of it is difficult in a hot shower. It’s also damaging to hair follicles themselves.

It may sound silly, but have you noticed that homeless people are rarely bald? It may be because they don’t often use shampoo: SLS also corrodes hair follicles and impairs their ability to grow hair. One study showed that if you use pure SLS on your scalp it will cause hair to fall out! Some trichologists (hair specialists) believe that increasing use of SLS and the salt that is added to it to make it foam is leading more women to lose their hair (or to have it thin out) than ever before.

There are however other more profound health hazards associated with SLS. Scientists have studied the effects of SLS extensively, and their studies reveal compelling and alarming evidence indicating that it should be avoided. Among the findings is that SLS is rapidly taken up by eye tissue and retained; this is even more so for children. SLS is absorbed through skin contact, not just through the eyes, and has been documented to enter and maintain residual levels in the brain, liver, heart, and lungs. It can damage the immune system and cause severe inflammation of the skin, but scariest of all, the damage is accumulative, and once your immune system is damaged, it takes long time for it to recover. This can lead to a form of suppression of your body that allows you to become more vulnerable to viruses or bacteria.

Unfortunately, it’s not only shampoos we have to watch out for. SLS is in a lot of other personal care products as well, including toothpaste, hand and body soaps, bubble baths, facial cleansers, shaving gel. But don’t worry–we’ll be discovering healthier product alternatives for you over the coming weeks. In the meantime, bin the SLS-laden shampoos in your bathroom and replace them with one of the fantastic SLS-free shampoos, all of which contain at least some organic ingredients, and which we’ve tried and tested ourselves, below.

Featuring Tahitian Ginger Extract, Onira Organics’ natural shampoos not only clean your hair, but nourish it, too. Wheat proteins and calendula flower extracts are added to protect, regenerate and repair broken strands, while pracaxi oil has a smoothing, detangling effect, leaving your tresses stronger and more manageable. Peppermint water combines with the calendula to create a soft, unique scent, and aloe vera is in there to hydrate and soothe. In short, this is a highly luxurious shampoo that never has SLS, PEG, parabens, silicone or other nasties.

This is a nice smelling shampoo without the toxic ‘parfum,’ and it lathers well without the SLS. Its long list of natural ingredients means it won’t irritate your scalp, and the density of protective antioxidants and amino acids means your hair is left naturally hydrated and smooth. Plus, there’s even a natural UV inhibitor to protect coloured hair!

Dr Organics uses a combination of bioactive, organic and natural ingredients, such as argan oil, Manuka honey and aloe vera to get your hair clean and soft, but be warned: it also contains some synthetic surfactants like cocamidopropyl betaine, which some may find irritating but which has been given a low hazard rating (4) by the Environmental Working Group. Still, Dr Organic shampoo cleanses and foams up well, and the presence of humectants like Argan oil leave hair soft and tangle free. The shampoos also have a lovely scent based on different natural ingredients such as mandarin peel oil, geranium oil, patchouli and cinnamon. Our favourite is the Manuka Honey, which really does smell like you just fell into a honey pot!

This certified organic shampoo shampoo is made of 70% organic ingredients, with coco glucoside as its main cleanser. It has a very subtle, light scent, as it is perfumed with just a touch of chamomile and rosemary extracts, so if you’re looking for a product to perfume your hair, this may not be right for you. The product creates a gentle lather with a clean finish, and best of all, doesn’t strip hair of colour or natural sheen.

Apparently a fave of Kate Moss’s, this is a soothing natural shampoo for all hair types, but especially for those with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Green People make a range of shampoos with various ingredients, and their products have no SLS or no foaming agents at all, and are also free of drying salt. Like Stop the Water While Using Me, we found a little of this lavender scented product went a long way.

Herbs like basil and hibiscus clean and nourish the hair from the root to the tips, while added peppermint oil helps with blood circulation to the scalp, which feeds the hair shaft from deep within. Saach also uses almond oil and coconut milk in its all-natural formulations to ensure your hair doesn’t dry out or break off. This is a deeply conditioning formula that uses the power of ancient Indian Ayurvedic techniques to help revitalise dry, damaged hair.

This one’s for the luxury lovers! The herbal, SLS free formula leaves your hair surprisingly soft and bouncy after use – in fact, many people, including me, feel a conditioner isn’t even necessary! No wonder it’s become something of a cult favourite and a best seller, despite the lofty price.

John Masters really is the ‘Master’ of natural hair care. His wide range of shampoos, conditioners, hair masks and styling products are fully based on natural ingredients, with many of these being from organic sources. We’ve tried and tested a good many of these, and have several favourites, including this Honey and Hibiscus Shampoo, which can be used every day. Fortified with soy, rice & oat proteins to renew and reconstruct damaged hair, this SLS-free shampoo permeates the hair shaft with nutrients and of course, the added organic honey and hibiscus make your hair smell gently wonderful!

Looking for a seriously pure and gentle shampoo? Look no further than NATULIQUE. This is one of the few brands that offerscertified organic hair care, and also offers three basic types of shampoo: moisturising for dry hair, volumising for those with thin or flyaway hair, and every day shampoo for the rest of us.

Got frizzy hair? We found the solution. And it’s 98% all natural and organic, too! Organic Surge Moisture Boost Shampoo cleanses your hair and scalp gently, without removing their natural protective oils, thanks to ingredients like grape vine extract, wheat protein and olive leaf extracts. This gentle formula is also fully free from harsh foaming agents that strip hair of its natural oils and can cause scalp irritation, but it does have a nice, lightweight lather, thanks to its naturally-derived ingredients. Oh, and did I mention it comes with a matching conditioner, too?

Eco certified with organic aloe, olive extracts and lavender oil, this highly balanced, very mild formula was made for those who like to shampoo their hair daily. It adds a healthy shine to the hair shaft, and was especially formulated to protect coloured treated hair – but it works a treat on natural hair, too, of course!

Looking for a shampoo for the baby? Or just have baby fine hair? Or maybe you want an all natural shampoo that won’t break the budget, and can also double up as a body wash? This shampoo really does tick a whole lot of boxes, which is why it’s been a European top seller for almost a century (that’s right – it’s been around for nearly 100 years!).

This is a gentle, tear-free formula with anti-inflammatory calendula, and moisturising almond oil. It offers a highly gentle cleanse that will never strip your hair, and is kind to even the most sensitive skins. It leaves your hair with a slightly sweet, chamomile like scent.

This tangy grapefruit and rosemary scented shampoo has a label (and a name!) that reminds you to turn the water off whilst you’re massaging the product in. A little dollop goes a long way, rinses out easily, and leaves no stripped feeling. The main ingredient here is a coconut based one: coco glucoside, plus wheat proteins. There is a ‘parfum’ on the ingredients list, which is a bit worrying as this word can potentially refer to any kind of chemical, but as the brand claims there are no artificial ingredients, we assume it’s a naturally based citrus scent.

Looking for seriously soft locks? Look no further! Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Sea Buckthorn Extract, Neem Leaf Extract and Linseed work together with Argan Oil to cleanse and deeply hydrate hair. It lathers up nicely (without SLS, of course) and leaves a soft, gentle scent. No wonder this shampoo is a top seller for the brand!

64 Comments

I tend to agree with you that Sodium Laurel Sulphate can really irritate our mucous membranes as well as our upper respiratory tract. This ingredient can also irritate our hair follicles. Therefore I believe that we should avoid shampoo that has this ingredient. As for me, my favorite shampoo is
Organic Excellence Mint Shampoo. This product is really good.

That’s a good point! Standards vary from country to country too. But the worst offenders are those who name their brand things like ‘Organic Essences’ or ‘Organix’ and actually contain nothing organic whatsoever….beware the greenwash!

[…] and 6.5, which is less damaging to the scalp and hair follicle. Of course here at Eluxe we prefer organic shampoos that don’t contain harmful ingredients. Some of the best we’ve found? Luxsit, Stop the […]

Bonnie

Feb 27, 2015 at 4:55 am

I was using John Masters till I discovered the toxic ingredients they use. After much research I found Face Naturals organic shampoo and conditioners. All there products rate 0 on skin deep and they are the real deal. I had many conversations with their staff and they really care about what you put on your skin. Their website is http://facenaturals.com

Hi Sara
I just looked into this, sorry for the long delay! Here is a link to the hazardous ingredients: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/brand/JOHN_MASTERS_ORGANICS/ They are NOT in the shampoo listed, but are in body creams and conditioners. VERY disappointed to learn that, though the shampoos are still ok…shame not ALL their products are reliable though 🙁

LisaBet

Jun 7, 2015 at 1:35 pm

I have fine, wavy (2b/2c) hair with a scalp that tends to get dry. I started using the Made from Earth Peppermint Conditioner about a month ago, and my hair looks better than it’s ever looked: shiny and healthy with well-defined curls. The best part is that it’s been great for my scalp too! No flakes, dryness, or itching.

machete98

Sep 5, 2015 at 1:17 pm

I’m having trouble finding a shampoo that is right for my hair. I have very thick hair, but they are fine hairs. The organic or natural shampoos I’ve used are either too oily for my scalp and don’t rinse out of my thin hairs very easily or have the opposite effect and leave my hair dry and frizzy (Avalon Organics, for example).

I’ve been trying the poo free method where I only use baking soda once a week, the rest of the week I just rinse it, and i spread my natural oils through my hair with a brush daily. I’m finding that I can’t get all of the baking soda out of my hair, because I have so many freakin thin hairs to get it through.

E.Tomlin

Nora

Jul 28, 2016 at 7:40 pm

Hey I have the same problem. I have long straight hair and it’s really dense or thick. I started using Dr. hauschka because it’s really famous and people on the internet recommend me. It worked but sometimes it left some residue deep in my scalp. I solved it by washing more throughly my hair, but it smelled funny and the liquid is a bit granulated. I heard from a friend about treetotub.com and tried it out because they threw free samples for promotion and loved it. What I like about it is that it cleans and moisturizes my hair, so there is no need for conditioner. They make it with soapberries and it’s all natural, but I don’t really know the details, but you can look it up on the internet.

Maria

Oct 14, 2015 at 2:44 pm

Machette98:

Hi. I too have very fine but thick hair. It’s also very bleached, if you can imagine. I treat my scalp with doo gro mega thick growth oil by putting a little on my fingertips and massaging it in. If you don’t like the ingredients that are in it: it’s a blend of oils, one of which is almond oil, then you may just try straight almond oil? I don’t wash my hair every day. But I am also able to take Nature’s Gate tea tree conditioner and add extra oils like lavender and peppermint to it to stop the dry scalp. Between that and the Doo Grow oil after two weeks I have no dry scalp flakes. I do not put the Doo Gro in my hair, only on my scalp, not the rest of my hair. Use too much of it and you will regret it but it washes off easily as they are lighter oils. I’ve tried using a tiny bit of coconut oil or jojoba oil by itself and it didn’t work. Just passing on what worked for me. Hope it helps and if not that you find something that does. Wishing you luck. Itchy scalp is no fun!

angie sam

Oct 16, 2015 at 5:33 am

I’ve switched to all natural shampoos, because the sulphates and other chemicals have been making my scalp itchy. However all of the “organic/earth friendly” products I’ve tried left me hair either dry, unclean or a complete tangled mess. After doing some research. the Somaluxe Shampoo (Clarify & Restore) came highly recommended for being hair friendly. I had my Somaluxe products within a few days of ordering them – it shampoo rinsed clean leaving my hair soft and nourished. I followed up with the conditioner. Both Somaluxe products left my hair looking and feeling healthier. Great! Natural ingredients that really work.

[…] out there to choose from as well as reviews from different sources (for example, here, here and here), but the main reason for my switching to is because of the harmful properties of SLS (this is […]

Jenn

Dec 6, 2015 at 4:52 pm

One of the best Organic skin and hair care lines is Intelligent Nutrients by Horst Rechelbacher. Horst was the founder of Aveda. This line is awesome! They carry his products at hospitals for cancer patients. Being an Esthetician certified in Oncology Esthetics, I would feel comfortable recommend his products to cancer patients.

Jenn

bri

Dec 21, 2015 at 10:48 pm

For awhile now I’ve wanted to switch to an all natural shampoo, because the sulphates and other chemicals have been making my scalp itchy. However all of the “organic/earth friendly” products I’ve tried left me hair either dry, unclean or a complete tangled mess. After doing some research The Somaluxe Clarifying Shampoo came highly recommended for being earth and hair friendly. The shampoo rinsed clean leaving my hair soft and nourished. I followed up with the Somaluxe Conditioner. Both products left my hair looking and feeling healthier. Great! Natural ingredients that really work. They really are an outstanding value.

[…] beauty section rocks. We cover some areas that few others do, and our beauty articles, like Our Top Natural Shampoos, Natural Alternatives to Botox and the Best Natural Hair Dyes, are also some of our most popular. […]

chetna

I think John Masters is a great brand – it’s really hydrating and smooths the cuticles perfectly. Use their hair mask as a conditioner to kill the frizz – it is light enough to use as a conditioner, but heavy enough to kill the frizz! Hope that helps 🙂

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keri

Kelly

Jun 1, 2016 at 3:43 pm

I started to use Sophie la girafe baby hair and body wash after I used it for my kids, and their naturally curly hair turned into more bouncy while looking really clean and healthy (even after sweatty summer days). It also smells so nice, very mild opposite to most natural stuff I have used. After using it for three months now my scalp is doing really well and the itchiness I had every now and then is gone. My husband also tested it for sort of oily scalp with flaky dandruff. With regular usage (washing every day) the scalp is clean and his shoulders are clean after long day at work.

Mary Ware

Jun 21, 2016 at 6:02 pm

The best shampoo and conditioner I have used are from GKhair brand. They are stellar products for dry, brittle and dull hair. They worked really very well on my dry and dull hair. Truly a game changer for me. Would definitely recommend to everyone who is suffering from dry, brittle and dull hair. And wants beautiful and healthy hair. 🙂

I haven’t tried any of this shampoo and conditioner. I’ll look for it and see the difference it can give to my hair. For now, I’ll stick with the shampoo I”m using while using coconut oil as my deep conditioner. Thank you so much for sharing.

RPatel

Sep 14, 2016 at 11:21 pm

Great to find this article. I am going to read these products ingredients and see which ones are the 100% natural, chemical free and meet my hair requirements. I was on no poo method but did not work that well, no results. I have Indian origin hair, so not shampooing on daily bases thus may be no shampoo method did not make difference.

Currently for several months I have been using Indian all plant based raw material – soapnut [reetha], shikakai and amla but the hair looks frizzy, bouncy – puffy and tangled, does not give smooth and sleek look. Though going all 100% natural my hair has definitely added that sheer and shine.

Personally, I think any shampoo without SLS will be better for dry hair. At the moment, I’m using Rahua and it seems to be working – it’s very gentle, and I don’t get any flyaway hair like I usually do in winter (my hair is quite fine and dry). Hope that helps? x

[…] of us worry about what’s in our shampoo, especially after learning that harsh sulphates like sodium laureth sulphate (SLS) can hurt our hair, and even our health. But few of us consider what goes into our hair […]

[…] fibres and obviously, stay away from bleach. Never use fabric softeners – instead, use a mild organic shampoo or a gentle, low-alkaline soap like Dr Bronner’s. Soak your jumper for quarter of an hour in […]

I’ve heard that switching from traditional to organic shampoo can help your hair a lot. I’ve never used any organic shampoo, but I’m really curious about trying one. Thanks to your list, I have a wide range to choose from! 🙂

Whisper

Apr 3, 2017 at 1:42 pm

Are there any Sulafate frees that are lightly scented and or no scents . I need help. Been using a Sulfate Shampoo for baby’s. Lady quit making it. I prefer very very light scents. Nothing strong. Help anyone please!

[…] Modern day shampoo brands are actually awful for your hair health. The fragrances that shampoos cons… Many people have even experienced hair loss or thinning due to the modern day shampoo products. They cause the overall health of your scalp and hair to decline, resulting in split ends, thinning hair, or even baldness. Nobody wants to lose their hair, and there is a good chance nobody would if they would just use this recipe. […]

Keep mirrors from steaming up for weeks or even months by using this method: rub a little shampoo on the mirror and polish off without rinsing. It needs a bit of effort to polish away the smears but it’s worth it because the results last a long time.

Laura Simoes

Jul 14, 2017 at 1:13 pm

Hi,

Can anyone help by recommending a safe hair spray and/or hair mousse brand?
I have been reading your articles on hair color safety and good shampoos with great interest.
Your extensive research with these articles is much appreciated! Just keep up the good work!